Lake Mead, Valley of Fire and Las Vegas

We were staying in the National Park at Lake Mead when I received an email from my nephew Craig, in Calgary.  He had been in Las Vegas recently, treating his staff to a few days in Sin City and had driven out of Vegas into countryside and the Valley of Fire State Park.  We had heard of it however not a lot and when Craig recommended that we visit the park, we discovered that it was only a 40 minute drive around Lake Mead.  It was a beautiful drive and the valley was spectacular.  Thank you Craig!

Soft colours as we drive around the lake

Fiery reds and orange once we enter the Valley of Fire
State Park

Valley of Fire natural sculptures.  This one is an elephant...
in case you didn't know.

We were always shocked and thrilled
to see gorgeous flowers making
their presence known in these incredibly hot and
dry places

How does this delicate little thing survive?

We hiked several trails in the Valley.  This one
has been used in many movies from westerns to
Star Trek

Movie ruins

Another hike took us into a canyon with more petroglyphs
than we have ever seen.  It also took us to Mouse's Tank.
Mouse was a renegade Indian in the 1890's who used the area as a hideout from the
authorities for the longest time. Sadly, his time ran out,  he was eventually cornered and
shot to death in his little hiding spot.

No surprise that artists love this place.  We spotted 6 of them.

The Beehives 

The Seven Sisters

Amazing shapes that almost seem formed
from play dough

Tribute to a former Canadian who had an unfortunate death.

Sunset over the hills at Lake Mead

Wire walker at the campground

Next door neighbours Raya and Lance from Yukon....and didn't
he play the flute!  Lovely people who needed to meet Johnny,
our guide in Sedona.  We just had an email from them,
telling us that they were in Sedona and hoping to connect with
him.  

Lance had visited Sedona a few years ago, climbed to the
top of a Vortex and quietly played his flute with his eyes
closed.  When he opened them, he was surrounded by people sitting
in Lotus, laying on the ground, meditating or simply crying.  He
said that he has never been as touched as by that moment.

Leaving Lake Mead, we do a bit of shopping in Boulder
City, and spot this cute and unusual little camper.

Ah Vegas!  Nothing quite like it I reckon.  Where else
would you find 100 police officers blocking off intersections
to allow a parade of 7 - yes I said SEVEN monster trucks
drive the strip?

Now that's a limo!

We've never been in a campground this huge!

Even a mini-golf course 50 feet from
our site

We couldn't miss the musical water show at Bellagio's - amazing!

Beautiful parasols hanging from the ceiling of Bellagio's

We caught Shania's show and were very impressed.  A down to earth
and engaging performer whose Canadian roots show up subtly and comfortably
throughout her show.   A very beautiful and warm woman and the 4000+
who filled the place were crazy about her.

Landscaping around Caesar's

The night before the show, we visited the Celine Dion shop
in the casino at Caesars, and found little trinkets like these for sale

We also found this fellow, the clerk who was working that night.
The night of the performance, we wouldn't have been able to meet him,
never mind chat as we had the opportunity to do this particular night.
Anyone remember Gary Carpenter?  He's still writing and producing
music for other people and doesn't sing any longer.  He works here
because he loves the frenzy and the people.  The shop only sells gear
for 4 artists: Celine, Shania, Rod and Elton.  Gary and his group
fronted for Rod when he arrived in the U.S., a virtual unknown.  They still
hang out together.  Check out Gary's website:  www.garycarpenter.com

A Celine bag

Another Shania item.  She has both a white and a
black horse in her show.....live!

At any moment you can be crossing the street
alongside a transformer like this, or Elvis...or someone
trying to get you to hire a hooker.  Great energy on the
strip until about 9:30 pm we found, until all the booze
(you can drink openly on the strip) begins to kick in
and the sirens start.  Las Vegas has an incredibly
high crime rate for it's size and it's understandable. We
sensed the change in the air and headed for home.  

We had a great time visiting Vegas and the surrounding area.  The people working there were friendly and fun.  The Oasis Campground where we stayed, has two women working as concierge and we met and chatted with one.  Her name is Dolores, she is 82 years old and was a dancer in Vegas in her 20's and 30's.  She went on to establish her own time share company and sold it while in her 70's and was invited by Oasis to join their staff.  Her associate is 84 and although quite ill with cancer, still wants to work and be productive.  She was one of the martini girls on the Dean Martin Show....if you are old enough to remember them.  Gary Carpenter told us that Vegas loves their seniors (of which he is one) and employs them whenever they get the chance because of their love for life, their experiences and their vibrant personalities.  

Next blog and the last for this trip:  The Amazing Grand Canyon Experience